A new invader is threatening the Everglades. Biologists have confirmed that invasive swamp eels, first detected in South Florida in the early 2000s, are spreading through the wetlands and wiping out key food sources for native wildlife.
What’s happening?
Recent research led by Florida International University scientists revealed that in Taylor Slough — a vital Everglades marsh — populations of crayfish and small fish have dropped by 80% due to predation from these snake-like fish.
These prey species are crucial for nesting wading birds like ibises and egrets. Without them, the birds struggle to raise their young, unraveling a food web that Everglades restoration projects have spent decades and billions of dollars trying to preserve.
“This is not something that we think is a normal phenomenon,” said Nathan Dorn, FIU aquatic ecologist. “It’s a really novel predator with some novel traits and it’s a new sort of loss factor for our fish in the system.”
Why are swamp eels important?
Swamp eels may look unassuming, but their presence could reshape the Everglades in lasting ways…